Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy · Consciousness

Psilocybin produces substantial and sustained decreases in depression and anxiety in patients with life-threatening cancer: A randomized double-blind trial

Griffiths RR, Johnson MW, Carducci MA, et al. · Journal of Psychopharmacology, 2016

This Johns Hopkins trial studied psilocybin in 51 people with life-threatening cancer who also had symptoms of depression and anxiety. Using a randomized, double-blind crossover design, each person received a very low, placebo-like dose and a high dose about five weeks apart, with preparation and support from staff. In this study, the high dose was followed by large decreases in depressed mood and anxiety, along with gains in quality of life, sense of meaning and optimism, and less fear of death. About 80% still showed clinically significant improvement at six months, and the strength of a mystical-type experience during the session was linked to the benefits. A limitation is that blinding is hard with psilocybin, since participants can often tell which dose they received. Psilocybin remains a Schedule I substance under US federal law, and regulated access currently exists only through state programs in Oregon and Colorado; it is not available in New Jersey.

Our summaries describe what each study found. They are not medical advice, and the practices at Halcyon are not a treatment for any condition.